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Aug 5 The bark of the town: Dogs Downtown returns for a second straight year

Dogs Downtown will be held this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Peace Plaza. The event, organized by the Rochester Downtown Alliance, welcomed 3,300 people and their four-legged friends during last year's inaugural bash.

This year's event — free and open to the public — will feature activities, performances, games and giveaways for our city's canines and their human companions. Among the notable attractions: doggy pools, a costume station, an agility course and several dog-related vendors. Food and refreshments (for humans) will also be available on site.

If you wander away from the event, these restaurants offer dog-friendly patios for visitors and their furry friends:

Saluté Wine Bar & More

Martini’s- (during Dogs Downtown only)

Newts/Hefe Rojo

Tap House (decks excluded)

Chester’s Kitchen & Bar

The Loop Bar and Restaurant

Mac’s

Grand Rounds Brew Pub

Half Barrel Bar & Kitchen

Meet the K9 Ninja

As an added treat, Rochester's own American Ninja Warrior contestant, Roo Yori(The K9 Ninja), will be on hand to take photos and advocate for his organization,Wallace the Pit Bull Foundation. Attendees will also have the chance to meet Angus, his black lab, who cheered him on during his American Ninja Warrior run in Indianapolis.

Yori clinched a spot to the Las Vegas Finals during an episode that aired in late July. While the next episode has already been filmed, the results won't be revealed until the show airs later this month (Yori is not allowed to discuss the results of the competition until then). If he wins the competition, Yori will receive $1 million for his pit bull foundation.